Best cheapest 5 string ?

[gary m]

I played a Musicman SUB the other day...pretty dang amazing!

Agree absolutely. Have had one of these for about two months and I continue to be impressed with its quality and value. Strung it with flats and haven't been able to put it down.

 

[KPJ]

The best cheap five is the Squier Affinity J5. They run $199 new, they deliver Jazz bass tone, and they have necks pretty much like Fender Jazz Vs. I think their Gotoh style tuners are good and keep the bass in tune too. Best of all, being basses from the Fender template, they are very easily modded and upgraded.

Seeing that you play vintage Jazz basses, I would say this is your best option to start. Alder body, maple neck with rosewood board - it's a jazz bass all the way through. I have had a few and the B strings on mine have been fine. As the fine Dr says, they are endlessly mod-able as aftermarket pickups, bridges and preamps all pop in. If you live near a Guitar Center there is most likely a black one hanging on the wall for $199. Go check it out. I had one that I upgraded as my main player for a few years and foolishly sold it. Option #2 IMO would be the Peavey Millenium. Very affordable with a pickup spacing close to a 70's Jazz. Either one of those basses should be good ways for you to "test the waters" on a 5 string and still be very familiar to what you are used to playing.

 

[dabbler]

SX for sure:

http://www.sxguitarspain.com/sx_vintage_5.htm

I agree with the SX suggestion. Rondo is kinda low on their SX 5ers right now, but this page is where they normally are: Link Removed

The Fender style SXes are called Ursas (and here in the US we don't get the Fender style headstock anymore) and you can get an understanding of the naming conventions from the 4 string page which has more stock right now:
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Dont' let the prices fool you, you would be hard pressed to get a body and neck this nice at the Rondo SX price (especially if you like chunky necks... I do), so yes there are some hardware compromises made, but my normal mods are simply to change the strings (imperative), shield (highly recommended), a new string guide (recommended) and series parallel switch (if you like that kind of thing... I do).

 

[hrodbert696]

So if we rise the bar price wise a bit...
Between 400 - 600 $.
What would you guys buy... ?

YAMAHA!

Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha

I think you should get a Yamaha.

My BB415 is basically my backup to a custom bass, but just for the variety I brought it to rehearsal last night.

Man, I love that instrument. I'd forgotten how good it sounds. I believe the new version, the BB425x, is $599 new. The new TRBXs are pretty good too.

 

[kodiakblair]

Was going to suggest the Peavey Millenium BXP but was beaten to it then same thing happened
when Mr Martin and dabbler got in first about the SX.

Must try harder

 

[azureblue]

Rondo music.. I have the 955. A great bass, especially for the price. All Rondos need new strings, and the necks take a bit to settle in, so be ready to do some minor truss rod tweaking. Easy returns if you don't like the bass. Kurt is great to deal with but he's pretty busy so try not to take up too much of his time.

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[SirChallsA]

Check out the Ibanez BTB series and the Ibanez SRX series.
I think I'm gonna pick up a used BTB405 QM.

 

[SirChallsA]

I'd check out also, the Jackson CBXV if you go new.

 

[Mvilmany]

Used carvin.

 

[blueskyrain]

Schecter Diamond P Custom 5. I love mine. List is $859 i believe, but they can be had for $399 shipped. feels like every penny of that 859

 

[Gorn]

Hey guys, I'm thinking of buying a 5 string.. but don't have much $ to spent...
What is the best cheapest 5 string to your opinion ?

Thanks

How much $ is not much $?

I've seen threads like this from people asking for budget suggestions and they can only spend up to $1200.

 

[Sixgunn]

I got an Indonesian Peavy Cirrus at a pawn shop for $300.00. It plays and sounds like some of my "high end' basses.

 

[honeyiscool]

I bought this at $399. At $349, it's even more of a no-brainer:

Link Removed

 

[acebase62]

I recently purchased a used natural finish Yamaha BBN5 for around $250.00.

The neck and body are in great condition, and it plays great.

I swapped the original J style pickups for a set of Dimarzio Area J 5 pickups, and put in new 500k volume pots and tone pot.

This thing sounds fantastic, and my search for a great 5 string bass is over.

I normally play 4 string JJ or PJ basses, but this BB plays as well as any 5 string I have ever played.

 

[Nydhog]

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Believe it or not man, these are all great. SX and Hadean basses are amazing.

 

[SirChallsA]

Whaaaaat? I'm super skeptical on a neck through 5 string for 190$.

 

[Nydhog]

I was too of the 4 strings. But I got one for 189 and it is amazing.



Theres a vid of one.

 

[Nydhog]

As long as you can do basic setup (truss rod adjustment, action at bridge adjustment, intonate, possibly file a nut) these things are a steal.

 

[SirChallsA]

Well I like the bass playing. I'm still quite skeptical though. I can't do my own setup either. I have to have someone else do it. I'm sure I could adjust intonation but I haven't got the right size allen wrench to adjust the action at the bridge and I don't want to snap my neck trying to adjust the truss rod.

 

[Johnny Crab]

Another vote for Rondo.
This one Link Removed
came here for a very reasonable price, came set up to play from Rondo.
Pic is lunch time practice with the SX.